Firefighter accused of punching woman placed on leave

A Carpentersville firefighter accused of punching a woman in the face at a St. Charles party has been placed on administrative leave, officials said Monday.

About 12:30 a.m. on Dec. 22, Jason Elders, a firefighter with the Carpentersville Fire Department, was found in the garage at a party on Town Hall Road in unincorporated St. Charles punching a 37-year-old woman from Galena in the face, according to Lt. Pat Gengler, spokesperson for the Kane County Sheriff's Office.

Elders, who faces misdemeanor battery charges in connection with the incident, was placed on unpaid administrative leave on Friday, according to Alan Popp, public safety director for Carpentersville.

Popp said the village is in contact with the county sheriff's office and is conducting an investigation of the incident.

"It's a personnel matter that we're taking very, very seriously," he said.

The woman was transported to a nearby hospital and treated for non-life-threatening injuries, Gengler said.

Gengler said it was unclear whether the two had any relationship prior to the party.

Elders is expected in court on Jan. 10 to set a plea, according to Kane County court records.